Free-agent outfielder Jon Jay agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

Jay began his professional playing career in the Midwest League. The then-St. Louis Cardinals prospect batted .342 with 3 HR and 45 RBI in 60 games with the 2006 Swing of the Quad Cities. He returned to the Midwest League for a three-game rehab assignment in 2015, his final year with the Cardinals. He went 0-for-10 with a walk and one RBI for the Peoria Chiefs.

Jay played for the San Diego Padres this year, batting .291 with 2 HR and 26 RBI in 90 games.

He is expected to platoon in centerfield for the Cubs, sharing duties with Albert Almora, who made his major-league debut this year. Almora also played in the Midwest League, batting .329 with 3 HR and 23 RBI in 61 games with the 2013 Kane County Cougars.

Jon Jay fields a ball during the 2006 season when he played for the Swing of the Quad Cities. (Quad-City Times photo)